4 signs that show you need to replace your hot water cylinder

Hot water is a must in every household of Auckland for the smooth running of day-to-day life. For a day, an average person uses hot water 20 times for common chores like cooking, bathing, laundry, and cleaning. Multiplying the hot water usage with the number of family members brings out the importance of having a good hot water cylinder.

Everything around us has an expiry date. Hot water cylinders are no exception. No matter which brand you are using, every water heater has a time & service period till which it can be used. Most of the hot water cylinders are designed to long last a maximum of 10 years. After that, we are left with two choices.

1. Hot water cylinder repairs
2. Hot water cylinder replacement

One might think that annual repairs of water heaters will increase their lifespan but in reality, it will only help for a certain time forward. Maintaining an old water heater is not a good idea as it will cost you additional expense and time. Listed below are some of the signs for homeowners to realize that the hot water cylinders need replacement.

Finding Rust 

If you are finding rust in your tap water or bathtub it is an indication that you have a rusty hot water cylinder. Rust happens due to the corrosion of metal or alloys. No matter if it is a steel water heater or copper water heater, they all are prone to corrosion. When corrosion happens, the rust will start spreading through the metal surface and will start appearing in drinking water and showers. Rust is very common in old hot water cylinders between the age of 8-10 years. If your noticing rusts, we advise changing your hot water cylinders at the earliest as it will affect the sanitation of your household.

In Addition to this, if you find rust around inlet valves it is a strong indicator that rust has taken hold of water cylinders inside the area.

Noise from Hot water cylinders

Another sign is that if you start hearing sounds when the hot water cylinders are working. As it gets older, the noise will get higher and higher. The situation will get worse if the number of people living in a household increase. Most commonly these noises occur due to due following reasons.

1. Sediments at the bottom of the tank
2. Non-flushing of water heaters

Leaking Water Heater

As the water heater gets old, it is very common to find leaks around the cylinder. Water leaks can cause serious damage to your property if not given proper care. The primary cause of these leaks is the expansion of the tank’s metal. The expansion occurs due to continuous heat cycles. Over time small gaps or cracks will start appearing leading to water leaks. If you find a water leak it is best to call a plumber in Auckland to fix the issue right away.

No Hot Water

Suddenly one day if you notice there is no hotter water, you can narrow it down to three possibilities.

• Problems with thermostat
• Faulty heating element
• Size of the hot water cylinder

The first two possibilities can be easily rectified with the help of a plumber. But if it is the 3rd, then you might require a replacement of a hot water cylinder. The size of the hot water cylinder depends upon the number of people using it. A small hot water cylinder cannot handle the hot water needs of a larger home. It can turn out faulty within a short time. So, we advise replacing your hot water cylinder depending on the usage of your home.

Hot water cylinders are an inevitable part of our homes. As time passes there is always a possibility to find one of the above faulty signs with your water heaters. If you find one, we advise you to contact one of the best plumbers in Auckland to get your new hot water cylinder installed at your home.